The Rams were sent to Portland in 2012 when they knocked off Wichita State before losing to Indiana.

VCU (26-9) won only five of its last 11 regular-season games — and suffered its first three-game losing streak in Smart's six seasons as coach — after losing Briante Weber to a season-ending right knee injury late in a loss to Richmond on Jan. 31. But the Rams got hot in the Atlantic 10 tournament, beating Dayton in the title game.

Ohio State (23-10) was ousted in the Big Ten quarterfinals by Michigan State and was 4-4 in its final eight games. But the Buckeyes are dangerous because of D'Angelo Russell and his 19.3 points per game.